Sustainable Marine Structures

Ultimate Capacity of Metal Matrix Composites Sandwich under Impulsive Loads for Marine Structural Applications

Rasgianti

PT PLN (Persero) Research Institute, Jakarta Selatan, 12760, Indonesia

Aldi Fahli Muzaqih

Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia

ristiyanto adiputra

national research and innovation agency

Ariana Dwiputra Nugraha

PT PLN (Persero) Research Institute, Jakarta Selatan, 12760, Indonesia

Almas Aprilana

PT PLN (Persero) Research Institute, Jakarta Selatan, 12760, Indonesia

Aditya Rio Prabowo

Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v7i4.2830

Received: 13 October 2025; Published: 10 December 2025

Abstract

The growing utilization of the ocean as a renewable energy source drives the need for reliable maritime infrastructure. One major challenge for these structures is withstanding impulsive loads from extreme ocean waves, which requires materials with high strength and deformation resistance to maintain structural integrity. Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) is a promising material, yet studies on its behavior under impulsive loading remain limited. This study investigates the ultimate capacity of MMC sandwich structures using the Finite Element Method (FEM) through simulations with an Underwater Shock Loading Simulator (USLS). Validation against the results of He et al. confirms the accuracy of the simulation method. Results indicate that increasing flyer velocity from 135 to 195 m/s raises the maximum displacement from 5.83 mm to 10.7 mm. Increasing face sheet thickness from 0.4 to 1.8 mm reduces deformation from 4.95 to 3.09 mm, while increasing core thickness from 14 to 20 mm decreases deflection from 5.42 to 3.68 mm. Furthermore, the thickness ratio analysis indicates that the 1:10 configuration produces the smallest deformation (4.13 mm) and is more efficient because it provides higher stiffness with lower mass. These findings demonstrate that optimizing core and face sheet thickness significantly enhances structural resistance to deformation. The study concludes that a balanced thickness configuration is key to improving the structural performance of MMC sandwiches, supporting the design of stronger and more sustainable materials for maritime structures in extreme environments.

Keywords: Impulsive Load, Marine Structure, Metal Matrix Composite, Sandwich Composite

References